Electrical switching apparatus



Aug. 31 1926.

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Fm. l

,mjiflw BY M43 6w ATTORNEY Aug. 31 1926.

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.29, 1923 1 i I @4 U INVENTOR MIQW 7. M BY M424C2flk ATTORNEY Aug. 311926. v 1,597,833

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 19 23 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 15 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHINC APPARATUS.

Application filed December 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,323.

My invention relates to electrical switches or automatic circuitbreakers for controlling circuits traversed by current utilizable forlighting, power or any other purpose.

In accordance with my invention switching mechanism or automatic circuitbreaker mechanism provided with means for restraining the movablecontact structure in predetermined position, is controlled by manuallyoperated means comprising an actuating structure 'carried by a support,which may be a housing, in combination with means for locking theactuating structure in a position to attain which enforces tripping ofthe movable contact structure, said means comprising a locking bolt ormember carried by and movable with respect to either the actuatingstructure or its support, said support or actuating structure having anaperture or recess in which the locking bolt or member engages.

In accordance with my invention, automatic circuit breaker mechanism ofthe character which prevents circuit closure during existence of anabnormal circuit'condition, such as nonclosable or double arm circuitbreaker mechanism, is provided with actuating or control structure incombination with means for locking the actuating or con trol structurein a position to attain which the circuit breaker mechanism must betripped.

My invention resides in apparatus of the character hereinafter describedand claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various. forms my invention may takereference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, and with partsbroken away, of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1,with the front wall or door of the housing partly cut away.

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section, ofthe actuating or control structureon enlarged sealer Fig. 4 is a frontelevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. '5 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of partof the structure of Fig. 3, with the locking member held in lockingposition by a padlock. v Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, side and frontelevational views of the manually operated member of the actuating orcontrol structure.

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, side and front elevational Views of amember co-actmg with the member .illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. 1

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, top plan, side elevational andfront elevational views .of the locking member.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a base,

preferably of insulating material, such as slate, marble or the like,upon the front face of which is secured a three-pole circuit breaker'mechanism utilizable for three-wire direct current systems, for threephase alternating current systems, or for any other system, it beingunderstood, however, that my invention is not limited withregard to thenumber of poles involved.

Enclosing the circuit breaker mechanism is the box or housing H,preferably of sheet metal, and preferably lined with insulatingmaterial, attached or secured to the base 1, or as indicated, to therear housing 1,. by the hook members 2 secured to the housing H anddetachably engaging in apertures 3 in the top wall of housing I.

The base 1 is secured to the rear housing 'I by the screws 4: threadinginto members 5 attached to or forming part of the rear housingstructure.

The rear housing I, which supports or carries ,the base 1 and housing His secured to any suitable support, as a pillar, wall or the like, byany suitable attaching means, as screws-6.

Through the pipe or conduit 7 extend the insulated supply or consumptioncircuit conductors 8 which pass into the interior of the housing- I andare provided, respectively, with terminals 9 b which they are connctedto the clrcuit breaker studs. Through the pipe or' conduit 10 extend theinsulated conductors 11 of the consumption or supply circuit which areprovided at their ends within the housing-I with terminals 12 connectingwith the circuit breaker studs.

" The housing H has the front wall 14, which may be fixedly secured tothe housing H or which may be pivoted thereto as in the vicinity of 13.The housing H may be secured in its normal or operative positionindicated in Fig. 1 by the links 15 and ioo 16 pivoted respectively tothe housing I and H and forming an over-travelled toggle lock.

The three switch members constituting the three poles of the circuitbreaker mechanism are indicated at A, B and C, Fig. 2, and only one ofwhich, namely B, is shown in Fig. 1.

Each of these switching or breaker 1nechanisms may be of the structureshown in my prior application Serial Number 496,815, filed August 30,1921, and comprises the terminal blocks 17 and 18 having studs 19extending through the base 1 into the box I where the aforesaidconductors 8 and 11 are connected therewith. The lower terminal blocks18 of the breaker poles A and C connect, respectively, to the windingsof tripping magnets 20, 20 whose remaining terminals connect to studs 19extending into the box I and to which two of the conductors 11 areconnected, whereby in series with each of two of the three poles thereis an overload tripping magnet.

Adapted to engage and bridge the terminals 17 and 18 of each breakermechanism is the laminated bridging member 21 carried by the arm 22pivoted at 23 to a bracket or other suitable support secured to thebase 1. Pivoted to the arm 22 at 24 is a toggle link 25 integral withthemember 26, the link 25 or member 26 being in turn pivoted at 27 tothe toggle link 28 pivoted at 29 to a bracket or'otherlsupport securedto the base 1, the links 25 and 28 forming a toggle for forcing thebridging member 21 into engagement with the terminal blocks 17 and 18.The members 26 of the three breaker mechanisms, A, B and C are tiedtogether by the transversely extending bar 30, whereby all the togglemechanisms and all the bridging members 21 operate in unison.

Secured to the bar 30, as preferably midway of its length in front ofthe breaker unit B, is the member 31, to which there is pivoted at 32the links 33, which are in turn pivoted at their lower ends at 34 to thesecondary operating lever 35, consisting of two similar members spacedapart, but attached to each other by the integral transversely extendingtie members 36 and 37.

The member is pivoted at 23 concentri cally with the arm 22 of themiddle breaker unit B. Pivoted to the lever 35 at 38 is a latch 39,which may be termed the nonclosable latch in the sense that it is thelatch which connects the main and secondary operating levers and which itripped to dis connect said levers upon attempted closure of the breakermechanism during continuance of abnormal circuit condition. At its rearend the latch 39has the lugs or projections 40 and 41 spaced from eachother at 42, the lugs 40 and 41 embracing or being disposed,respectively, above and below the plate 43 attached to the latchactuating mechanism comprising the transversely extending bar 44 carriedby arms 45 pivoted at 46 to the base 1.

Each of the magnet coils 20 co-acts with a core structure having thepoles 20, with which eo-acts an armature 47 suitably pivoted, as at 46and adapted upon energization of the magnet to be attracted upwardly,after release of the movable from the stationary sucker element of thestart-delaying device D, and engage the under side of the bar 44, whichcauses upward movement of the aforesaid plate or member 43 and also moveupwardly the tripping member 48, which co-acts with the tail of the mainlatch 49 pivoted at 23 to a stationary housing or bracket secured to thebase 1 and having at its forward end a latch hook adapted to re strain,by engagement with the pin or roller 50 on the member 26, the toggle inextended position, though somewhat under-travelled, and the bridgingmember 21 in circuit closing position indicated in Fig. 1.

The latch 39 has the latching surface 51 adapted to thrust against theco-acting surface 52 on the members 53 secured to each other and formingwith the attached members 54 the main operating lever 55 pivoted at 23to a stationary member secured to the base 1. Forming a part of the mainoperating lever 55 is the upwardly extending lug member 56 co-actingwith the transversely extending lug 57 on the latch 39.

The members 53 of ,the main operating lever 55 extend forwardly andterminate at 58, at which the force for manually actuating the circuitbreaker mechanism is applied.

The end 58 of the main operatinglever 55 is disposed in the path oftravel of the members 60 and 61, which in the example illustrated areextensions on the single member or piece 62 ecured between the members63 of insulating material, which in turn are secured to the member 64,which is pinned to the shaft 65, whose axis of rotation is normal to thebase 1 and which has bearings at 66, 66 in the bracket member 68 securedupon the inner side of the wall or door 14 and movable therewith.

The shaft and the parts attached thereto are biased toward normalposition, that indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, bya spring, not shown, therotation of the shaft 65 and the parts attached thereto in eitherdirection from the normal position being opposed by the spring.

Secured to the shaft 65, outside of the wall or door 14, for operatingthe actuator members 60, 61, is the member 69 provided with theoperators handle 70. Embracing and secured to the member 69 is theU-shaped member 71 having the downwardly turned flange or abutment 72adjacent the forward end of the notch 73 to the rear of which is m anthe transversely extending portion 74 spaced from the upper end of themember 69 to accommodate the longitudinally movable locking plate 75terminating the locking bolt or member 76 adapted to enter an aperturein the housing wall 14, and particularly the aperture 77, Fig. 4. Thelocking plate 75 has the downwardly extending end member 78 to which issecured the pin 79 upon which is disposed the helical spring 80 disposedin the socket 81 in the member 69, the spring 80 thrusting the lockingplate 75 toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The

'lockingplate 75 and the locking member 76 may be forced toward the leftin opposition to the spring 80 by a finger or thumb pressed in upon thedownwardly extending portion 78 of the plate 75. The plate 75 may bethrust toward the left also by inserting the hasp 82 of the padlock 83into the space between the abutment 72 and the web of plate 74 of themember 71, whereby thelockmg member 76 is held in locking position untilthe hasp 82 is removed after unlocking the padlock 83.

The structure above described, comprising the members 69, 71, 76, etc.for locking the actuating mechanism against operation is of the generalcharacter described and claimed in my prior application Serial Number655,196 and is of the species disclosed in said application in Figs. 23and 24 thereof.

The operation is as follows:

\Vith the structure in the circuit closing position illustrated in Fig.1, upon occurrence of an abnormal electrical condition in the circuit,one or the other, or both, of the electromagnets willbe energized todegree sufficient to attract the armature or armatures 47, as a resultof which the tripping member will be lifted, thereby rotating the latch49 in clockwise direction, Fig. 1, and releasing the member 26, andsimultaneously the tripping member 43 will engage the underside of'thelug 40 of latch 39, rotating that latch in clockwise direction about itspivot 38, disengaging the lug or latch surface 51 from the co-actingsurface 52 of the main operating lever 55. As a result of the actuationof the latch 49 the toggle 25, 28 collapses, and the bridging members 21separate from their terminal blocks 17 and 18, thereby interrupting theycircuit; the final are being taken as usual bv the carbon shuntcontacts 84 and 85.

Upon collapse of the toggle as aforesaid, the member 26 is rotated incounter-clockwise direction about its pivot 24, causing counterclockwiserotation of the secondary operating lever 35 about its pivot 23, and thelatch 39, now disengaged from the main lever 55,

i is rarricd upwardly with the lever 35.

The mechanism is reset in circuit closing position by rotating thehandle 70 first in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, causingthe lug 61 to engage the under side of the end 58 of the main lever 55,thereby rotating it in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1,and causing it to approach the lever 36, and finally the latch 39, underthe influence of gravity, or spring, not

shown, resumes the relative position indicated in Fig. 1, whereby thesecondary lever 35 is locked to the main lever 55. Thereafter the handle70 is rotated in counterclockwise direction, causing the "In or memberto engage upon theupper side of the end 58 of the main lever 55,depressing it, and thereby rotating the lever 55 in clockwise direction,causing rotation in like direction of the co-axially pivoted lever 35,and followed by extension .of the toggle structure and engagement of thecontact members 21 with their terminals'17 and 18, the latch 49, underthe influence of gravity, or spring, not shown, re-engaging the pin orroller 50 and restraining the mechanism in circuit closing position;

If, during the aforementioned resetting movement, an abnormal electricalcondition obtains in the circuit protected by the circuit breakermechanism, at first closure of the circuit, as by engagement of shuntcontact 85 by shunt contact 84 before the bridging members 21 engage theupper terminals 17, and before the latch49 locks the member 26, one orthe other, or both, of the magnets 20 will be energized, with the resultthat the tripping member 43 will be elevated or moved to higherposition, and the under side of the lug or extension 40 ofthe latch 39will ride up upon the top surface of the trip ping member 43, causing aclockwise rotation of the latch 39, as viewed in Fig. 1, andconsequently an automatic disengagement or release of the secondaryoperating lever 35 from the main operating lever 55, the circuit breakerstructure then flying to open circuit position, as in the case firstdescribed.

With the circuit breaker mechanism in circuit closing position asindicated in Fig. 1, if it should be desired to trip it manually,

the operators handle 70 is moved in clockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 2. causing the lug 61 to engage the under side of the end 58 of themain operating lever 55, causing counterclockwise rotation of the mainoperating lever 55, as viewed in Fig. 1, the- I iii upon the lever 55.The mechanism is now unlatched as regards both latches l9 and 39, andthe circuit breaker mechanism flies to open circuit position, under theinfluence of gravity, or spring means, not shown, operating upon thearms 22.

The actuating mechanism comprising the members 60 and 61 and the partssecured therewith to the shaft 65 may be locked against operation bymoving operating handle to such position that the locking bolt or member76 comes into alignment or register with the slot 77, Fig. 4, whereuponit may be forced into said slot 77 and there held or locked byapplication of the padlock 88 as indicated in Fig. 5.

The slot 77 is so located that in moving the actuating mechanism toposition in which it may be locked by engagement of member 76 in slot77, the member 61 engages the under side of the lever 58 to trip thecircuit breaker mechanism manually as above described. I

It is accordingly true of the circuit breaker mechanism described thatit is and must be manually tripped to move the actuating mechanism toposition in which it may be locked; and that when the actuatingmechanism is so locked against operation the circuit breaker mechanismis necessarily in open circuit position.

Upon removal of the padlock 83, the spring 80 will withdraw the lockingbolt 76 from the aperture 77, freeing the actuating mechanism which maythereafter be operated to actuate the lever 55 for any of the purposeshereinbetorc described.

This appli ation is in part a continuation of my prior applicationSerial Number (355.196, filed August 2, 1923.

'What I claim is:

l. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contactmember and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, amovable member carried by said support, means for locking said memberagainst movement in predetermined position with respect to said supportcomprising a locking member carried by and movable with respect to saidmovable member and adapted to engage said support, and means whereby inresponse to movement of said movable member to position in which it islocked to said support said contact mem ber is tripped by actuation ofsaid restraining means.

2. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contactmember and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, amovable member carried by said support, means for locking said memberagainst movement in predetermined position with respect to said supportcomprising a locking member carried by and movable with respect to saidmovable supto said support in predetermined position,

said movable member actuating said re straining means to trip saidcontact member when said movable member is moved to said predeterminedposition.

at. The combination with a movable contact member and means forrestraining it in normal position, of an enclosing housing, a movablemember carried by said housing for actuating said restraining means, anda locking member carried by and movable with respect to said movablemember for locking .it in predetermined position to said housing,

said movable member actuating said restraining means to trip saidcontact member when said movable member is moved to said predeterminedposition.

The combination with a movable contact member and means for restrainingit in normal position, of an enclosing housing, a movable member carriedby said housing for actuating said restraining means, and a lockingmember carried by and movable with respect to said movable member forlocking it in predetermined position -to said housing, said movablemember actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member whensaid movable member is moved to said predetermined position, and a lockdisposed in the pathof movement of said locking mem ber.

6. The combination with an automatic circuit breaker comprising amovable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, andautomatic tripping mechanism, of means for preventing circuit closureduring existence of an abnormal electrical condition, a support, amovable member carried by said support and adapted to ellect actuationof said restraining means, and means for locking said movable member inpredetermined position with respect to said support, movement of saidmovable member to said predetermined position effecting tripping of saidcontact member.

7. The combination with an automatic circuit breaker comprising amovable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position andautomatic tripping mechanism, of means for preventing circuit closureduring existence of an abnormal electrical condition, a support, a.movable member carried by said support, and adapted to eflect actuatlonof saidrestraining means, means for locking said movable member inpredeter mined position with respect to said support,

movement of said movable member to saidrelation with respect to andadapted to effect actuation of said restraining means, and means forlocking said movable member in predetermined position with respect tosaid ousi-ng, movement of said movable member to said predeterminedposition efi'ecting tripping of said Contact member.

9. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a 'movable contactmember, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating memberdetachably connected to said contact member, and automatic trippingmechanism, of a support, a movable member carried by said support andadapted to trip said contact member, and means for locking said movablemember in predetermined position with respect to said support, movementof said movable member to said predetermined position eflfectingtripping of said member.

10. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contactmember, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating memberdetachably connected to said contact member, and automatic trippingmechanism, of an enclosing housing, an

actuating member carried thereby and adapted by movement in onedirection to actuate said operating member to move said" contact memberto normal position and by movement in opposite direction to eflecttripping of said contact member, and means for ocking said actuatingmember in predetermined position with respect to said housing, movementof said actuating member to said predetermined position effectingtripping of said contact member.

11. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contactmember, means for restraining it in normal position, an operatingmember, means detachably connecting said operating member to saidcontact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of an enclosinghousing, an actuating member carried thereby and adapted by movement inone direction to actuate said operating member to move said contactmember to normal position and by movement in opposite direction toefi'ect tripping of said contact member, means for locking saidactuating member in predetermined position with respect to said housing,movement of said actuating member to said predetermined positioneffecting tripping of said' contact member, and means for locking saidlocking means in position to lock said actuating member in saidpredetermined position.

12. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contactmember, means for restraining it in normal position, an operatingmember, means detachably connecting said operating member to saidcontact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of a support and amovable member carried by said support and adapted to effect bymovements in opposite directions tripping of said contact member andactuation of said operating member to re-set said contact member, and alocking member carried by and movable with respect to said movablemember for locking it in predetermined position with respect to saidsupport, movement of said movable member to said predetermined positionefi'ecting tripping of said contact member.

18. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contactmember, means for restraining it in normal position, an operatingmember, means detachably con necting said operating member to saidcontact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of a support, and amovable member carried by said support and adapted to effect bymovements in opposite directions tripping of said contact member andactuation of said operating member to re-set said contact member, alocking member carried by and movable with respect to. said movablemember for looking it in predetermined position with respect to saidsupport, movement of said movable member to said predetermined positioneffecting tripping of said contact member, and a lock for restrainingsaid locking member in predetermined position.

l4. Switching apparatus comprising a movable contact member, a support,an actuating member carried by said support, said actuating memberhaving a recess, a spring therein, and a locking member carried by saidactuating member and disposed for rectilinear sliding movement upon saidactuating member, said locking member having a transversely extendingportion disposed adjacent to said recess and co-acting with said spring.

15. The combination with a movable contact member of a switch, of asupport, an actuating member carried by said support, a locking memberdisposed for rectilinear sliding movement upon said actuating member,said actuating member having a recess,

a helical spring in said recess, a transversely extending portion onsaid locking member, and a pin on said portion extending into saidspring.

16. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movablecontact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of asupport, a movable member carried by said support, means for lockingsaid member against movement in predetermined position with respect tosaid support, means whereby in response to movement of said movablemember to position in which it is locked said contact member is tripped,

and locking means for holding said first named locking means in lockingposition.

17. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movablecontact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of asupport, a movable member carried by said support, means for lockingsaid movable member in predetermined position with respect to saidsupport, and means whereby in response to movement of said movablemember to said predetermined position said contact member is tripped.

18. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movablecontact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of anenclosing housing, a movable member carried by said housing, means forlocking said movable member in predetermined position with respect tosaid housing, and means whereby in response to movement of said movablemember to said predetermined position said contact member is tripped.

19. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movablecontact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of asupport, a movable member carried by said support and movable topositions with respect thereto for freeing said contact member from saidrestraining means and for resetting said contact member,

means for locking said movable member in predetermined position withrespect to said support, and means whereby in response to movement ofsaid movable member to, said predetermined position said contact memberis freed from said restraining means.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

